Healing the Core of Addiction Person-Centered Therapy

Everyone has different preferences, needs, and expectations while recovering from substance use disorder (SUD). Person-centered therapy allows clients to focus on the areas they know will have the most profound effect on their recovery and overall mental health. According to the International Journal of Person-Centered Medicine, studies have shown that “person-centered treatments that promote well-being have lower drop-out, relapse and recurrence rates than other treatment approaches.” Exclusive Hawaii Rehab uses person-centered therapy to help people heal from SUD.

What Is Person-Centered Therapy?

Studies have shown that “[p]erson-centered therapy, also referred to as non-directive, client-centered [therapy] . . . is grounded in the idea that people are inherently motivated toward achieving positive psychological functioning.” People want to heal from substance abuse and other conditions affecting their mental and physical health. Person-centered therapy provides people with guidance in directing their own recovery.

Generally, person-centered therapy sessions involve the following:

• Finding ways to set healthy goals and achieve self-actualization
• Authentically and freely expressing emotions without fear of judgment
• Collaboration between client and therapist
• Open-ended questions to facilitate self-exploration
• A focus on current thoughts, feelings, and experiences

Clients play an active role in decision-making during each session. Therapists guide clients through the process of improving self-awareness and self-expression. People who have a strong desire to regain control of their lives benefit from using person-centered therapy to address issues related to substance abuse.

Focusing on a Holistic Approach

A holistic approach to recovery looks at the whole person and all factors related to their mental and physical health. Person-centered therapy is one way to help clients develop well-rounded recovery goals, plans, and skills. Clinicians collaborate with clients to determine what areas to address during rehabilitation. Person-centered therapy is a type of psychotherapy that supports client autonomy and encourages people to take control of their recovery. A holistic approach to care also ensures clients use the skills they learn in therapy to improve their overall health and well-being.

People often remain more engaged in their recovery after completing treatment if they feel comfortable with their ability to manage their symptoms independently. Learning essential skills through therapy and other methods helps people prepare for long-term recovery by making them play an active role in their own recovery. A holistic approach to treatment ensures clients have the insights and motivation to successfully navigate unexpected challenges during recovery.

The Benefits of Person-Centered Therapy

Person-centered therapy focuses on client autonomy and client-clinician collaboration. People are encouraged to explore their thoughts, feelings, and desires in a healthy space. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “The aim of person-centered therapy is congruence, i.e., to enable the clients to understand their own experiences and to be able to integrate them with their self-concept . . . Thus, in person-centered therapy, the therapist and client construct a shared narrative as the therapist empathically understands the client’s inner representation of its experience and to carefully offer meanings to the client’s experience of which the client is scarcely aware.”

The primary benefits of person-centered therapy include:

• Personal growth and empowerment
• Emotional healing
• Improved relationship and social skills
• Reduces stress levels
• Improved self-esteem and self-confidence
• Greater ability to express emotions
• Increased self-awareness

Psychotherapy is an excellent tool for treating SUD and co-occurring mental health disorders. Many people combine various forms of psychotherapy, including person-centered therapy, to create a tailored approach to treatment and recovery. Person-centered therapy helps people embrace treatment.

Personalized Relapse Prevention Strategies

Person-centered therapy allows clients to take a more direct role in their own treatment by teaching them to better understand their inner experiences. Gaining essential social, communication, and problem-solving skills while in treatment also helps people feel more comfortable directing their own recovery. Person-centered therapy improves self-efficacy and self-awareness, making developing effective and personalized relapse prevention strategies easier.

A relapse prevention strategy does the following:

• Ensures people are more mindful of triggers and the symptoms of SUD
• Encourages regular self-assessments
• Promotes continuous engagement in the recovery process
• Encourages positive lifestyle changes
• Helps people utilize support systems
• Addresses potential triggers

Relapse prevention strategies strengthen each client’s ability to navigate challenges and crises in early recovery.

How Does Exclusive Hawaii Rehab Support Person-Centered Therapy?

Person-centered therapy is a powerful tool for supporting and empowering individuals who are in treatment for substance abuse. Often, people who chronically misuse substances feel out of control and unable to direct their lives. Treatment programs at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab address the root cause of addictive behaviors and provide people with the resources they need to rebuild self-confidence and take back control of their lives. Person-centered therapy is one way the clinical team helps foster a sense of responsibility and accountability for individuals in recovery. By taking a directing role in their own recovery, clients often feel more focused and engaged with the treatment process.

Tailored Treatment Plans for Every Client

Customized treatment plans and person-centered therapy give clients greater control over their own recovery. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Person-centered care—also known as patient-centered care—means [people] have control over their services, including the amount, duration, and scope of services, as well as choice of providers.” In addition, “Person-centered care also is respectful and responsive to the cultural, linguistic, and other social and environmental needs of the individual.” Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offers tailored treatment plans to ensure clients can access the services and support they need to heal.